Railroad employee hurt by falling debris

In the news

ANCHORAGE (AP)  A supervisor for the Alaska Railroad was injured Wednesday after being struck by falling debris during work to repair the Moody Tunnel near Healy.

The supervisor sustained head and shoulder injuries. His injuries are not believed to be serious, said spokes-person Tim Thompson.

The tunnel ceiling was damaged Sunday evening. when a train loaded high with equipment was not able to clear the tunnel. Temporary repairs were made Sunday evening.

However, on Tuesday morning a rock slide occurred as a crew was making more permanent repairs. About 150 cubic yards of rock and soil poured into the tunnel after support timbers holding up the ceiling were removed.

The rock slide closed rail lines north of Denali National Park. The tunnel is in Healy Canyon between the national park and Healy, a community of about 1,000 people 78 miles southwest of Fairbanks.

Thompson said it looks like the tunnel will be reopened Thursday. In the meantime, passengers were being bussed through Healy Canyon and points south from Denali to Anchorage.